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Reflection vs Contemplation - What's the difference?

reflection | contemplation |

As nouns the difference between contemplation and reflection

is that contemplation is the act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study while reflection is the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

reflection

English

Alternative forms

* reflexion

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
  • The property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror).
  • Something, such as an image, that is reflected.
  • (senseid) Careful thought or consideration.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
    • , passage=But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections .}}
  • An implied criticism.
  • (label) The process or mechanism of determining the capabilities of an object at run-time.

    • Derived terms

    * reflectional * reflectionless * self-reflection

    Related terms

    * reflect * reflective * reflector

    See also

    * refraction * diffraction

    contemplation

    English

    (wikipedia contemplation)

    Noun

  • The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study.
  • Holy meditation.
  • The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing.

    • Antonyms

    * (musing) pragmatism